I Became the Tyrant of a Defense Game [EN]: Chapter 30

First, since it was late, I decided to hear the report tomorrow and took a meal and rested.

It was because I thought that if I heard about a problem that couldn’t be solved right away, I would only worry about it all night.

I had been rolling around in the dungeon all day, so I fell asleep as soon as I lay down. I slept soundly without any dreams.

And so, the next morning. As soon as I woke up, I summoned Aider to the reception room.

“No reinforcements at all? What are you talking about?”

As I asked accusingly, Aider, who was rolling his eyes, looked at me and answered cautiously.

“Well, you see, the Empire is currently at war with an enemy nation on the western front.”

“So?”

“They say that they are mobilizing all available troops from the central region and various other places to the western front. Naturally, there are no reinforcements to send to this monster front…”

“…”

I narrowed my eyes. Something was off.

The Empire is always at war. They are constantly fighting with neighboring countries, day and night, all year round.

But suddenly, they’ve taken troops even from these remote southern cities?

‘Why now,’ of all times, when I requested reinforcements?

“…”

A suspicious unease lingered, but it was something I couldn’t do anything about.

I am just the commander of this monster front, and I have virtually no control over the Imperial Army. All I can do is request or ask for support.

So, I have to rely on mercenaries.

“What about the mercenaries? Are there any new recruits?”

“We are hiring every mercenary who comes to the mercenary guild. However, it seems that not many new people are coming…”

Aider trailed off.

It had only been a few days since the last battle. It would be unreasonable to expect the guild to be filled with mercenaries right away.

I was getting a headache, so I rested my chin on my hand and groaned.

“Ugh…”

What should I do? Replenishing troops is essential for proceeding to the next stage.

It was then. Aider looked at me with a subtle smile. What is it? What’s going on?

“Is there somewhere else we can get more troops?”

“Yes, there is, actually…”

“If there is, you should have said so right away. Why are you hiding it? Explain it quickly.”

“But it might give you a headache.”

“Is my headache the problem now? The problem is solving the next stage. Tell me quickly. Where can we get more troops?”

Aider, without losing his subtle smile, gestured towards the outside of the room.

“Very well. Then, please follow me.”

Aider took the lead, and I quickly followed behind him.

“Did you cough, Your Highness!”

Then, for some reason, Lucas, who had overslept, came rushing to join us. His hair was a mess, that guy.

I pressed down on Lucas’s sticking-up hair with my fist.

“Did you sleep well, Lucas? You must have had a good sleep.”

“I am deeply sorry for being late, Your Highness. A knight should not…”

“You’re always saying sorry. It’s fine, let’s go. It seems Aider is going to lead us somewhere.”

The three of us went outside the mansion. The morning air was quite chilly, as it was early spring.

Aider headed straight to the stables and brought out three horses.

“It’s not too far, but we need to go outside the city.”

Lucas, who had quickly mounted his horse, asked.

“Where are we going, Aide Assistant?”

“To the former lord.”

Lucas and I were surprised and widened our eyes. Aider said it again.

“We are going to the mansion of the Cross Margrave!”

***

What is a Margrave?

To put it simply, it’s a count (伯爵) who guards the border (邊境). [A count is a noble title, and a margrave is a count specifically tasked with defending a border region.]

Originally, counts are usually local clans who rule their respective regions as actual lords.

However, a margrave has slightly more authority than a regular count.

This is because they are tasked with protecting the border from enemy nations, monsters, and disasters.

In short, they are not just local clans but also military commanders responsible for the defense of their region.

“The Cross family has ruled this place since the first people gathered in Crossroads.”

We rode out of the city and headed southeast. Aider continued his explanation.

“The fortress’s name itself was taken from the family’s name.”

The Cross family built the road (Road).

The fortress built on it was named Crossroads.

“It’s a prestigious family that has protected this place for a very long time, since the fortress was first built.”

“But why did the margrave give up his position as lord here?”

I was confused and tilted my head.

This place is far away from the center of the Empire, in the southern borderlands.

Frankly speaking, the margrave has more power here than the emperor. The ruler of this land is the Cross Margrave.

But he voluntarily gave up his position as lord and asked to be governed by the central government.

It is the beginning of the game where Prince Ash is appointed to this vacant lord position.

To give up a territory that has been ruled for generations? Why?

“There were many complicated circumstances. It would be better to hear it directly.”

Aider wore a teasing smile, as if he knew but didn’t know.

Don’t do that, just spoil it for me!

“We’ve arrived. It’s here.”

After riding for about 30 minutes, Aider stopped his horse. I craned my neck to look around.

On a hill with an oak forest in the distance, there was an old mansion.

Ivy grew profusely on the walls of the mansion, which were faded and dusty, and the windows were so dusty that you couldn’t see inside.

It was clear at a glance that it was not being properly maintained.

“It was originally built as a villa for the Cross family. After giving up his position as lord, the margrave moved here.”

“Is anyone even living there…?”

“Of course. I send daily necessities here regularly.”

I got off my horse. Lucas and Aider also got off, following me. I cautiously approached the old mansion.

Why would the margrave, who should have been ruling like a king in this region, give up his position as lord and shut himself away in a place like this?

Questions swelled up like clouds.

It was then. As I passed through the fence and entered the yard, a hoarse, raspy voice came flying at me.

“Who are you people!”

Surprised, I saw a gaunt old man coming out of the mansion, yelling at the top of his lungs with a flushed face.

“Do you know where you are? How dare you barge in here! Huh?”

He was a skinny old man. His unkempt beard covered his chin messily, and his eyes were bloodshot.

A strong smell of alcohol wafted from his body. It seemed he had been drinking just a moment ago.

The old man shook the empty bottle in his hand roughly from side to side.

“Get out, get out of my house!”

While Lucas and I were stunned and frozen, Aider quickly jumped forward.

“Oh my, Margrave! How have you been! It’s me, Aider!”

“Huh? Isn’t that our assistant friend? It’s been a while.”

Seeing Aider, the old man’s attitude softened noticeably.

But Aider, what did you just call this old man? Margrave?

‘Then this drunken old man is… the Cross Margrave?’

The former lord of this city?

Aider continued to talk to the Cross Margrave.

“I was worried about you, so I came to see how you were doing. How are you? Is there anything you need?”

“I’m doing well… but the alcohol you send is a bit lacking. Send me one more cart of alcohol starting next month.”

“Oh my, you’re already drinking so much. If you drink more, it’ll really harm your health!”

“I’ve already decided to die from alcohol poisoning. Just send me more without any complaints.”

After arguing about the alcohol delivery for a while, Aider changed the subject.

“Alright, Margrave! More importantly, we have a guest! We’ve brought a guest!”

“What? A guest? Didn’t I tell you not to let anyone find me?”

“Please just talk for a moment. He’s a very precious and important person.”

Aider pointed at me and introduced me.

“The newly appointed lord! His Highness Prince Ash ‘Bonehater’ Everblack!”

The Cross Margrave’s eyes widened at the mention of my name.

The margrave and I made eye contact, and I gave a light bow.

“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Cross Margrave. I am Ash, the youngest son of the great Emperor, and the newly appointed lord of Crossroads.”

Even if Ash is a rebellious prince, he can’t speak informally to the margrave.

It’s like a newly transferred lieutenant talking down to a sergeant major.

So, I spoke to the margrave in an awkward formal tone.

“I came to see you because I have something to discuss…”

“Get out.”

“Huh?”

“I said get out. Can’t you hear?”

The Cross Margrave gestured outside with a grim face. There was even a faint murderous intent in his eyes.

I was dumbfounded and just stared at the margrave.

This is crossing the line.

The Everblack Empire is a strict class-based society.

No matter how much the Cross Margrave was the de facto ruler of this place, how dare he speak informally to a prince on their first meeting? And on top of that, he’s telling me to leave?

“That’s rude, Margrave! I’ll make sure you understand the hierarchy between us…”

Clang!

Just as I was about to say something, the margrave grabbed something that was placed at the entrance of the mansion.

It was an enormous cavalry spear and shield. The old man lifted it as lightly as a straw, despite his skinny body.

“…I guess there’s no need. Yeah.”

I immediately shrank back.

In this class-based Everblack Empire, what does it mean to point a weapon at a member of the royal family?

It means you’re a crazy bastard.

And the answer to a crazy person is to avoid them. That’s an immutable truth. Shit.

“Get out of here.”

The Cross Margrave, raising the tip of his spear threateningly, growled.

“Get out while I’m being nice! Get out!”

Lucas was about to step forward in anger, but I raised my hand to stop him.

“…I’ll come again, Margrave. I hope we can have a proper conversation then.”

I led the way out of the mansion. Lucas, with a dissatisfied face, and Aider, with a terrified face, followed me closely.

The margrave continued to yell in a hoarse voice at our retreating backs.

“Don’t ever come back! Leave me alone here! Do you understand?!”

***

The Cross Margrave. Full name is Charles Cross.

He has never appeared directly in the game.

But the reason I remember that old man is because he is the father of ‘Evangeline Cross,’ the strongest tank in this game.

Evangeline is one of the most popular SSR [Super Super Rare] heroes in the game. [SSR is a common term in gacha games, referring to the highest rarity of characters.]

Because of her overwhelming performance, she was always among the top five characters that players wanted to get.

I wanted to get her so badly that I even read through Evangeline’s profile, looking for any hints about her appearance conditions.

There were no hints in her profile, but the name of Evangeline’s father, Charles Cross, was written there.

That’s how I remembered him.

‘I have to win over that drunken old man somehow.’

As I was returning to Crossroads after being kicked out of the villa, I was lost in thought.

‘Solving the troop shortage is important, but it might also help in recruiting Evangeline.’

Like any other SSR-grade hero character, Evangeline was difficult to recruit.

Her appearance rate was low, and her recruitment success rate was also low. In fact, I couldn’t get Evangeline even in the hellish clear runs. [Clear runs refer to attempts to complete a game or level.]

But her father is here.

‘If I do something right, maybe a recruitment flag will be set?’

Crossroads came into view in the distance. I turned around.

“But how is that old man going to solve the troop problem?”

Aider’s answer was clear.

“The Cross Margrave has private soldiers in his family. They are elites who are loyal only to the margrave.”

“Oh.”

“If we can persuade the margrave, the private soldiers will also be incorporated under the lord’s command, and the troop shortage problem will be greatly solved.”

“I have to coax him somehow…”

But Lucas didn’t seem to like it.

“Should we really bring in such an impudent person? Moreover, if he is a local power here, he might interfere with Your Highness’s rule of this city in the future.”

“Even if that happens, we have to bring him in.”

Problems are for later, survival is for now.

“But he won’t even let us talk, let alone meet. What should we do?”

“There is a way.”

“Oh, what is it?”

Aider smiled and made a cup shape with his hand, then pretended to drink it.

“There is a way to get close to a drunkard, a way that only a drunkard knows.”

The gesture was clear.

With a face like he had bitten into dirt, I cursed.

“Damn it.”

I want to live a good and honest life, but this world won’t let me. Damn it.